Being a Student Includes Washing Cars Focus on Education on Pg
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
October 10, 2016 Volume 20 Number 20 Being a student includes washing cars Focus on Education on pg. 19 inside Finding a way to be together 13 Snapshots 15 PM40063104 R09613 Focus on Education 19-25 2 Canadian Mennonite October 10, 2016 Editorial thinking and new ways of looking at Honouring our founder things. In that sense, our Dick Benner founding pub- Editor/Publisher lisher lives on in the pages of Canadian e are pleased to announce context. They were one and the same. Mennonite. He gave Ted Friesen that the family of the late Ted But, it must be said, his faith was one of birth to something WFriesen, the first publisher of openness to new insights in theology, to that, even though it The Canadian Mennonite, has agreed to the Greek and Jewish foundations of our died for a short period in the early 1970s, set up—and seed with a $50,000 gift—a Christian faith, and to other faiths. He had found such a place in the hearts of fundraising initiative that we are calling was a thorough-going Mennonite, but Canadian Mennonites, it was revived in the Ted Friesen Legacy Fund. he looked outward. His faith was eastern Ontario in 1971 and has carried We hope that it will serve as an alive and changing to the very on ever since. incentive for others to follow suit end of his days. He was a seeker It was tough back then to rally the in giving major gifts to finan- of truth, not a possessor of truth.” leadership around his vision. “We be- cially stabilize the 63-year-old While the new legacy fund is a came aware of the immensity of the task publication during an uncertain fundraising initiative, it is much before us,” Ted said in a 1999 reflection. time of changing denominational more than that, having been “The church was changing. It was a per- structures. named after a person of such vision iod of flux, with the old trying to main- Friesen, who died this past February at and compassion. Ted Friesen embod- tain the status quo and the new looking the age of 95, was a visionary and church ies the sustaining vision and purpose for change to meet the needs of the time. statesman from Altona, Man., where he of Canadian Mennonite. He lives on in . To speak to the young people, to and his brothers established a printing the stories of our congregations and in speak prophetically to the issues of the business that survives to this day. He was reflecting our theology and practice. day, was urgent.” “at the heart of many historic develop- Just as he had the vision and initiative Sound familiar? While the issues ments in Canadian Mennonite life,” wrote to bring together the Mennonite world might have changed, the challenge to Margaret Loewen Reimer, a niece, who of the 1950s, so today there is a need to be relevant to the needs of this time are paid tribute to him in our June 6 issue. bring together our diverse body as the the same. It is a tough time for print Ted was a leader in historic develop- winds of religious and cultural change publications on the religious scene. The ments and in relief work through blow through our ranks. We are seeing 141-year-old Presbyterian Record just Mennonite Central Committee. He not our denominational centre—Mennonite announced that it will be closing with its only helped establish the first English- Church Canada—diminished in favour of December issue. Right before that, the language national publication, but, seeing new regional structures. Denominational Western Catholic Reporter said it would the need for English-language worship loyalty, so effectively rallied by Friesen more be going entirely digital. The Mennonite in his hometown of Altona, helped to than a half-century ago, is on the wane. Brethren Herald came to near-death in found, along with his wife Linie (Krahn), If Ted were in our midst today, with all recent years if not for the vigorous pro- Altona Mennonite Church in 1962. A the energy and compassion he showed test of its readers. conscientious objector himself, he never back then, he would be at the forefront of We think that Canadian Mennonite judged those who signed up, including this new era, giving leadership and voice has a central place in the ongoing conver- two of his brothers. to a new vision. He would likely look to sation of MC Canada. The Ted Friesen Son Eric wrote in his tribute to his fa- the national publication as his platform Legacy Fund will help keep it sustained. ther: “You cannot separate Dad’s and microphone to give direction and We hope you respond generously when Christian faith from the Mennonite wisdom. He would give place to creative asked for support. About the cover: As part of Orientation Week 2016 at Conrad Grebel University College, Waterloo, Ont., upper- We acknowledge the financial support of year students held a car wash to support feedfive and Ray of Hope; feedfive is an initiative started the Government of Canada through the by Grebel students several years ago that sells T-shirts as a way to buy ingredients for meals they Canada Periodical Fund for our publish- cook and serve at Ray of Hope, a local community centre. See Focus on Education on page 19. ing activities. ISSN 1480-042X PHOTO: AURREY DRAKE, CONRAD GREBEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE October 10, 2016 / Vol. 20, No. 20 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063104 REGISTRATION NO. 09613 Why Mennonite education matters 4 ‘Grounding in the arts and humanities, Bible, sciences, theology and RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO : contents CANADIAN MENNONITE, music are important to preparing students for life,’ writes educator Terry 490 DUTTON DRIVE, UNIT C5, Schellenberg. ‘It’s in our church schools that the potential exists to WATERLOO, ON, N2L 6H7 bridge the silos of these disciplines and bring them together into mean- Phone: 519-884-3810 Toll-free: 1-800-378-2524 Fax: 519-884-3331 ingful conversation.’ Web site: canadianmennonite.org Facebook.com/Canadian.Mennonite @CanMenno Summerbridge: Three detours in(to) ministry 12 Please send all material to be considered for publication to: Matthew Veith profiles three participants in this year’s Mennonite General submission address: [email protected] Central Committee Canada service and ministry program known as Readers Write: [email protected] Summerbridge. Milestones announcements: [email protected] Paid obituaries: [email protected] 14 Calendar announcements: [email protected] ‘Love for all, hatred for none’ Material can also be sent “Attn: Submissions/Readers Write/Milestones/ Joe Heikman, pastor of Wildwood Mennonite Obituaries/Calendar” by postal mail or fax to our head office. Church in Saskatoon, says of his congregation’s Reprint requests: [email protected] shared meal with its Muslim neighbours, ‘It’s good Mission statement: To educate, inspire, inform, and foster dialogue on issues facing for us to include in our circles . people . who Mennonites in Canada as it shares the good news of Jesus Christ from an Anabaptist understand God and the world very differently perspective. We do this through an independent publication and other media, work- than we do.’ ing with our church partners. Guiding values: ‘Whatever you want, God’ 16 Hebrews 10:23-25 • Accuracy, fairness, balance • Editorial freedom • Doug Snyder answered the call of God for more than five decades. Seeking and speaking the truth in love • Open hearts and minds in discerning God’s will During that time, he served God, the church, and ‘the least and the lost.’ • Covenantal relationships and mutual accountability Area churches and MC Canada financially support 38 percent of Canadian Focus on Education 19-25 Mennonite’s annual budget. Read stories from, and about, Conrad Grebel University College, Board of Directors (by appointing body): Mennonite Collegiate Institute, Rosthern Junior College, Eastern MC Canada: Doreen Martens, Henry Krause, Rod Wiens, Elmer Hildebrand; Mennonite University, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Canadian MC B.C.: Linda Matties; MC Alberta: Kuen Yee; MC Saskatchewan: vacant; Mennonite University and Goshen College. MC Manitoba: Ken Reddig; MC Eastern Canada: Tim Reimer; CMPS: Lois Epp, Ally Siebert, Bryce Miller Board Chair: Henry Krause, [email protected], 604-838-3192 Young Voices 27-29 Young Voices editor Aaron Epp profiles the ‘faith journey’ of Krista Head Office Staff: , associate pastor of Wildwood Mennonite Church in Dick Benner, Editor/Publisher, [email protected] Loewen Ross W. Muir, Managing Editor, [email protected] Saskatoon, in ‘Bearing witness to something greater’; and Winnipeg Barb Draper, Editorial Assistant, [email protected] singer-songwriter Michaela Loewen in ‘Growing up on record.’ Dan Johnson, Graphic Designer, [email protected] Lisa Jacky, Circulation/Finance, [email protected] Aaron Epp, Young Voices Editor, [email protected] Virginia Hostetler, Web Editor, [email protected] Regular features: For discussion 6 Readers write 7 Milestones 10 Advertising Manager: D. Michael Hostetler, [email protected], A moment from yesterday 11 Online NOW! 17 toll-free voice mail: 1-800-378-2524 ext. 224 Schools Directory 26 Calendar 30 Classifieds 31 Correspondents: Will Braun, Senior Writer, [email protected] Honouring our founder 2 Amy Dueckman, B.C. Correspondent, [email protected] Donita Wiebe-Neufeld, Alberta Correspondent, [email protected] Dick Benner Donna Schulz, Saskatchewan Correspondent, [email protected] Beth Downey Sawatzky, Manitoba Correspondent, [email protected] Learning to follow the Jesus way 8 Dave Rogalsky, Eastern Canada Correspondent, [email protected] Phil Wagler One-Year Subscription Rates Canada: $46 + tax (depends on province where subscriber lives) Becoming Mennonite 9 U.S.: $68 International (outside U.S.): $91.10 Patrick Kwame Kukanu Subscriptions/address changes: (e-mail) [email protected] Printed in Canada Award-winning (web) canadianmennonite.org CMCA member of the AUDITED (phone) 1-800-378-2524 ext.